Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 719,373. PATENTED JAN.27,1903.

W. A. ROBERTSON.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 18, 1900.

N0 MODEL.

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' IINTTETD STATES PATENT @Erica XVILLIAM A. ROBERTSON, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

ACETYLENEGAS GEN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent No. 719,373, dated January 2?', 1903.

Application filed October 18. 1900. Serial No. 33,507. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM A.RoBERTsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 2110 Alameda avenue, Alameda, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AcetyleneGenerators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of said invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it most nearly appertains to make, use, and practice the same.

This invention relates to improvements in acetylene-gas generators, particularly to that class of generators wherein the calcium carbid is dropped into the Water. Generators of this class have been subject to the imperfection of the finely-powered carbid-dust falling upon the surface of the Water and forming a thin scum,which becomes thicker and thicker as the carbid sifts in, until there is quit-e a quantity of carbid that is not acted upon by the Water until the scum referred to becomes too heavy to float, when it breaks up and sinks, liberating a quantity of gas in excess of the figured capacity of the generator, generating an excessive heat and putting a dangerous pressure on the gasometer, making the gas generation tful and uncertain. In many instances the scum Will hold up sufliciently long to stop generation entirely, putting out the lights throughout the system, followed by an excessive generation, with its obvious disadvantages.

To overcome the above imperfections and to provide a convenient means for flushing and changing the water in the generator are the objects of this invention.

The invention consists of means for keeping the surface of the Water in the generator in an agitated state to prevent the formation of scum.

The generator A is filled to near its top by opening the valve C/ on the service-pipe O2. The Water in the generator is kept agitated by a small jet of water led from the servicepipe C2 through the branch pipe B and nozzle B into the body of Water in the generaerator A to the Water-level and out to a Waste? pipe, care being taken not to incline the outlet to prevent siphoning.

The carbid in the chamber D is automatically measured and spilled into the generator A in the usual manner, but falling upon agitated water readily sinks and decomposes evenly,which is not true when the carbid-dust falls on a placid surface of Water, as above set forth. The carbid falling` into constantlyflowing Water, a larger quantity of Water is acted upon and the generation of gas takes place at a normally lowV temperature. The gas is led off to the gasom eter from the generator in the usual manner through the pipe X.

To iiush the generator to carry off the precipitated calcium, the service-pipe C2 and the outlet C3 are placed near the bottom of the generator. The outlet C3 being opened, the foul Water is drawn off to Waste and the valve C opened, the water being allowed to run till it comes clear at the outlet. Outlet C3 is closed and the generator permitted to fill.

It is obvious that the agitator may be made to operate automatically or may be differently arranged Without interfering with the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an acetylene gas-generator or the like, a generator, means for injecting a constant stream of water into the body of the Water in the upper portion thereof, an inlet-pipe entering the generator at the bottom on one side, an outlet-pipe at the bottom on the other side, valves on both pipes, and an overliow consisting of a pipe extending down into the water near the bottom of the generator and its upper end leading out of the generator at the Water-le vel,the difference between the heights of the overiiow and the injecting means cans ing a constant circulation of Water.

2. In an acetylene-gas generatororthelike, to discharge said Water; substantially as dea water-tank, a service-pipe feeding therescribed. 1o into, and a branch pipe leading from said In testimony whereof I have hereunto'set service-pipe and having a nozzle feeding into my hand this 13th day of October, 1900.

the side of the tank near the water-level, WILLIAM A. ROBERTSON. whereby said nozzle feeds a jet of water into Witnesses: said tank for agitating the carbid-receiving BALDWIN VALE,

surface of the Water, an overoW-pipe adapted l JOHN F. SAWYER. 

